A decision by Bradley Stoke Town Council to potentially allow more than one food trader to operate in the car park of each of its three community centres has been criticised by a number of local residents and one of the existing pitch holders.

Currently, there is one trader (Ozzy’s Kebabs) permitted to trade at the Brook Way Activity Centre and another (Papas Pizzas) at the Baileys Court Activity Centre, but the council’s Finance Committee recently agreed that up to two traders should be allowed at each site.

Ozzy’s Kebabs effectively took over the permit previously held by Oasis Foods, although it has yet to start trading pending the fitting out of a new van.

There are currently no traders operating at the Jubilee Centre, where it is understood that a previous application for a street trading licence (from South Gloucestershire Council) was turned down following objections from local residents and representations from the police regarding the history of anti-social behaviour at the site.

The first impact of the council’s new policy is likely to be seen at Brook Way, where Papas Pizzas has successfully applied for a permit to trade on four evenings a week. But that decision has been criticised by Ozay Isitmen, the owner of Ozzy’s Kebabs, who says allowing a second food outlet at the site will affect the viability of his business, once he starts trading. Furthermore, a request by Mr Isitmen that his rent be reduced in view of the presence of a rival business was rejected at November’s meeting of Full Council.

Neighbours of the Jubilee Centre also attended the November council meeting, where they expressed concerns about food traders being allowed at that site. They complained that the council had not honoured a promise made at its September meeting to “undertake consultation with surrounding neighbours [should the proposal be explored in more detail]” and said the decision had been “financially driven”.

One resident, who did not give her name, told councillors:

“We’ve always been good neighbours to the Jubilee Centre. It’s time you became good neighbours to us.”

Another suggested that takeaway vans would be better positioned at Tesco (the Willow Brook Centre), away from residential areas.

Town clerk Sharon Petela told the meeting that no interest has so far been shown from traders wishing to operate at the Jubilee Centre. Should any applications come forward, residents would have the chance to raise objections when the business owner applies to South Gloucestershire Council for a street trading licence, she added.

Councillors have claimed that offering multiple food pitch hires at each of the sites is “beneficial for the area, offering residents a wider choice of multi-cultural takeaway food facilities within the town at the same time as offering an extra income stream for the council.”

This article originally appeared in the December edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to all homes in Bradley Stoke.

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